Coating machine



Feb. 7, 1939. L, B. CORBETT 2,146,285

7 COATING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV NTOR fir W mind ATTORNEY L. B. CORBETT COATING MACHINE Feb. 7, 1939.

Filed April 4, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm mm I I I llrrrl ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1939. L. B. CORBETT COATING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 EM mwdw pf "W2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COATING MACHINE Lawrence B. Corbett, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 4, 1934, Serial-No. 119,053

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of applying a sensitizing medium to cylinders which are subsequently exposed to receive an image of data which is to be reproduced thereon g by etching processes, and more particularly to machines for evenly distributing and drying the sensitized coatingon the outer surface of a cylinder such as may be used in a rotary printing press.

In the process of photo-etching type characters 1. it is necessary to flow a sensitized film or coatin which may be of various consistency, and may include albumen or collodion, together with any suitable reagent which is acted upon by light, over the surface of the material to be etched. In

II the present embodiment a cylinder of brass. copper, or other suitable material may be provided over which a light sensitive emulsion is flowed. In order to render the thickness of this coating as even as possible over the entire surface of the i cylinder, the cylinder must be kept in motion while the emulsion is drying. If the cylinder was merely set aside to dry and remained stationary the emulsion would naturally tend to flow downwardly to the lowest part of the cylinder so that 25 the result would be a very thin coat at the upper surfaces of the cylinder gradually increasing in thickness to a maximum at the lower surfaces. Therefore, theapplication of heat is desirable to increase the rapidity of the drying action, but

30 the temperature must be kept under control so as not to exceed the critical point where it may injure the emulsion.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a device for drying a sensitized emulsion 35 on a cylindrical form.

Another object is to provide a device for rotatating a cylindrical form in two directions slmultaneously to evenly distribute the emulsion thereon.

40 Another object is to provide a device for heating a cylindrical form while turning in two directions.

A further object is to provide a device for cona trolling the temperature of the cylindrical form while said form is rotating in two directions.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

s In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevational view of the device.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed section through the cylinder arbor of the machine.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of'the mechanism for fastening the cylinder unto the arbor. Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the collector rings for transmitting current to rotating members.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the device.

Referring to Fig. 1. the device is mounted on a base comprising a rigid box-like structure having one side open. 0n the bottom plate I of the base structure is mounted a thrust bearing 2 in which is journalled a vertical hollow shaft 3, proyided with a bearing plug 3a fixed in its lower end, extending upwardly and supported by a bearing 4 mounted on the top plate 5 of the base structure. Fixed to the back plate 6 of the base structure is a motor I and integral with the motor casing is a housing 8 containing a worm and gear drive by means of which a pulley 9 fixed to the worm wheel shaft 941, is rotated.

The worm wheel shaft in is iournalled at its lower end in a bearing III also fixed to the back plate 6. A pulley ll fixed to the shaft 3 is adapted to be driven by means of a belt l2 cooperating with pulley 9. Fixed to the vertical shaft 3 are insulated collector rings i3, I4, and i5. Conductors (Fig. 5) extend from each of the collector rings upwardly through the hollow shaft 3 for purposes hereinafter described. Insulated roller contacts l1, l8 and I9 cooperate with said collector rings to conduct the current supplied from an external source. Suitably fastened on the top of shaft 3 is a flange 20 on which is mounted a flat plate 21 Suspended from this plate is a bracket 22 on which is mounted a motor 23 with a housing 24 enclosing a worm and gear drive. A shaft 25 is fixed to said gear and extends through a bearing 26 which is mounted on a bracket 21 likewise suspended from the plate II.- A bracket 28 mounted on the plate 2| supports a housing 29 in the ends of which are mounted ball bearings 30 (Fig. 2), in which is journalled a hollow shaft 32 having integral with one end thereof a hollow arbor 33 on which a cylinder 34 may be pressed. The opposite end of the shaft 32 has fixed thereto a pulley 35 and insulated collector rings 36 and 31. The pulley 35 is adapted to be driven by means of a belt 38 from the pulley 39 which is fixed to the shaft 25. Insulated roller contacts 40 and 4| (Figs. 1 and 4) cooperate with the collector rings 31 and 36 respectively. These roller contacts are the same construction as the rollers u II, II and II previously mentioned and the description of the structure of one will sufllce. The roller contact ll is rotatably mounted on an axis it fixed to an arm I, said arm being pivotally mounted at to a bracket ll suitably mounted on the supporting structure of the machine. The roller contact ll is held in contact with the collector ring 31 by a suitable insulated spring such as indicated at It.

Pivotally mounted within the hollow arbor it I (Figs. 2 and 3) at 41, on the post ll fixedly attached to the arbor 83 at ll, are the arms 50 having projections II suitable for a spring 63 as indicated in Fig. 3 tending to urge arms 5| outwardly against the arbor ll. Integral with the arms I. are fingers 2 extending beyond the arbor suitable to hold a cylinder 84 in position on the arbor 33. Extending downwardly (Fig. 2) and forming part of the arms 50 are pins 84 which may be grasped to aid in forcing the arms Ill together by compressing spring 53 in order to remove the cylinder 34. Fixedly mounted within the hollow arbor 83 are insulated contacts 54 (Figs. 2 and 5) held in position by bracket 55 which is fastened to arbor shell by screw 50. Cooperating with contacts 54 is a thermo-couple 81 mounted on an insulator SI fastened to arbor 33 and so adjusted that below a predetermined critical temperature within the hollow arbor the contacts 54 are permitted to remain closed and upon a temperature rise beyond the said critical value the thermo-couple operates in a well known manner to open the contacts 54 which are conductively connected to the collector rings 38 and I! by wires 5! (Figs. 2 and 5) through the hollow shaft 3!. Thermostatic contacts 54 as will be explained hereinafter control the heater element 6. (Figs. 1 and 5) mounted on the flat plate 21.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the operation of the device is as follows: 'Ihe horizontal arbor 33 is rotated by closing switch I which permits current to flow from the line 82 to collector ring ll, contact roller II, and motor 23 through contact roller II, collector ring I! and to the return side of the line 83. Current is also conducted by line 64 through contact roller 4., collector ring 31, normally closed thermostatic contacts 54, collector ring 38, contact roller 4|, line I, relay coil 66, line 61, line I, contact roller ll, collector ring I! to the return side of the line 83.

From the abq've circuits traced the closing of switch 6| causes motor It to rotate and through its shaft 25, pulley I, belt I. cooperating with pulley II rotates shaft 32 and arbor II. It is seen from the above circuit traced that since the thermostatic contacts 54 are normally closed the relay coil 8 is energized to attract its armature 09 closing its contact ll.

While the arbor I! with a suitable cylinder 34 mounted thereon is rotating, the light sensitive liquid is poured onto the cylinder. Motor I which as explained rotates shaft 3 and the fixed plate II to which is attached the heating element 80, motor 23 and rotating arbor II with the mounted cylinder I4, is started by closing switch II, current is then conducted by wire 12 to relay coil I! normally closed contacts II of a suitable timing device ll located on plate i of the base structure to the return wire It to energize relay coil 13. Energization of relay coil ll attracts its armature 11 to close its contact 1| allowing current to flow from line I! through relay coil 19, wire 80, contact 18, armature ll, wire II to return line ll to energize relay coil It. Energization of relay coil ll attracts its armature 82 closing its contact 83 closing the motor circuit and starting motor 'i by current conducted from line I2, armature 82, contact 83, motor 1, wire 84 to return line I6. The arbor 33 with its mounted cylinder 34 is now rotated in two directions or planes by virtue of its rotation by motor 23 rotating its direct connected shaft 32 and by the rotation of shaft 3 by motor I, so that the horizontally revolving arbor 33 is whirled around the vertical shaft 3. Rotating the mounted cylinder I4 in this manner insures that the applied emulsion on the cylinder is evenly distributed thereon.

When both the motors 1 and 23 are operating to rotate the cylinder 34 in both planes, key 85 is depressed momentarily to close the heating element circuit as follows: Closing of key contacts l6 conducts current from line 63 to collector ring II, contact roller l9, wire 81, the closed contact as traced hereinbefore, armature 69, wire '1, relay coil 88, wire ll, wire 64, contact roller I I, collector ring I 4 to the other side of the line 62, energizing relay coil ll causing it to attract its armature 90 and the double contacts 9| and 82. A locking circuit is then established to continue energization of relay coil 88 after the key 85 has been released opening its contacts 86, as follows: Current from line 63 is now conducted through collector ring l3, contact roller I1, wire ll, armature it closed, contact 10, armature 69, wire 81, relay coil ll, wire 89, wire 64 to the other side of the line 62. The heating element til is then energized by closing of contact 92 by current from line 83, collector ring I 3, contact roller ll, wire 68, armature 90, contact 92, heating element 0, wire 89, wire 64, to the other side of the line 62. ,The energization of the heating element 60 is continued until the emulsion coating is dried and the cylinder attained a certain predetermined temperature. At this critical temperature the thermostatic contacts 54 are opened by the operation of thermo-couple 5! to open the heating element circuit, as follows: Opening of contacts N deenergizes relay coil 86, opening its contact 10, deenergizing relay coil 88 in turn opening its contacts SI and 82 to deenergize the heating element ill.

At a suitable predetermined period which may be variable due to various emulsions applied to the cylinder 34 the circuit for motor 1 is opened by operation of the timing element opening its contacts 14, as follows: Opening of contacts 14 deenergizes relay coil 13 causing its contact 18 to be opened in turn deenergizing relay coil 19 opening its contact ll opening the circuit to motor I. The operation of the timing element to open its contacts 14 may be set to operate any time during the emulsion distributing cycle or at the end of the emulsion drying cycle depending on the particular characteristics of the materials used. The circuit of motor 23 is then opened by opening switch I deenergizing motor 23 and stopping rotation of arbor 33 with its mounted cylinder.

From the above description it is seen that the emulsion distributing process is attained by first, rotating the cylinder about an axis in rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, then during the rotation about this said axis applying the sensitized emulsion thereon, then rotating the cylinder for a predetermined time thereby evenly distributing the same thereon by spreading aided by the spinning of the cylinder (the time element required for the rotation in the one said direction varies with the different emulsions to be used), then rotating the cylinder in two planes, and during the distributing cycle the emulsion is dried and automatically controlled so that the critical temperature of the emulsion is never exceeded. Rotation of the cylinder in one plane or direction is automatically controlled by the timing element with its predetermined control setting. At the proper moment rotation of the vertical shaft and its attached arbor is stopped, and at some suitable period the heating element is de-energized. At the completion of this process the cylinder when cooled is removed and ready for exposure.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for coating cylinders with a sensitized emulsion, a rotatable supporting member for a cylinder, driving means adapted to rotate said supporting member and cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, means to initiate operation of said driving means to rotate the said member and cylinder, independent driving means adapted to rotate the said rotating member and cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder, and separate means to initiate operation of the last mentioned driving means thereby effecting rotation of the cylinder about two axes concurrently to evenly distribute the emulsion applied to the said cylinder.

2. In a machine for coating cylinders with a sensitized emulsion, a rotatable supporting member for a cylinder, driving means adapted to rotate said supporting member and cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, means to initiate operation of said driving means to rotate the said member and cylinder, independent driving means adapted to rotate the said rotating member and cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder, separate means to initiate operation of the last mentioned driving means to effect rotation of the cylinder about the two axes concurrently to evenly distribute the emulsion over the said cylinder, means for heating said cylinder while rotated, and means for rendering the heating means inoperative at a predetermined temperature during the said rotation of the cylinder.

3. In a machine for coating cylinders with a sensitized emulsion, a rotatable supporting member for a cylinder, driving means adapted to rotate said supporting member and cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, means to initiate operation of said driving means to rotate the said member and cylinder, independent driving means adapted to rotate the said rotating member and cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder, separate means to initiate operation of the last mentioned driving means to eflect rotation of the cylinder about the two axes concurrently to evenly distribute the emulsion over the said cylinder, means for heating the said cylinder during its rotation, and means including a thermostatic device disposed within the rotatable mmnorting member for rendering the heating means inoperative at a predetermined temperature during the said rotation of the cylinder.

4. In a machine for coating cylinders with a sensitized emulsion, a rotatable supporting member for a cylinder, driving means adapted to rotate said supporting member and cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, means to initiate operation of the said driving means to rotate the said member and cylinder,

independent driving means adapted to rotate the said rotating member and cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder, separate means to initiate operation of the last mentioned driving means thereby efiecting rotation of the cylinder about two axes concurrently to evenly distribute the emulsion applied to the said cylinder, and means for automatically rendering the last mentioned driving means inoperative upon completion of the distribution of the emulsion over the cylinder.

5. In a machine for coating cylinders with a sensitized emulsion, a rotatable supporting member for a cylinder, driving means adapted to rotate said supporting member and cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder,

means to initiate operation of the said driving It means to rotate the said member and cylinder, independent driving means adapted to rotate the said rotating member and cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder, separate means to initiate operation of the last mentioned driving means to effect rotation of the cylinder about the two axes concurrently to evenly distribute the emulsion over the said cylinder, means for heating the said cylinder during its rotation, means for rendering the heating means inoperative at a predetermined temperature during the said rotation of the cylinder, and means for automatically rendering the last mentioned driving means inoperative upon completion oi the distribution of the emulsion over the said cylinder. 6. The method of coating the outside surfaces of cylinders with a sensitized emulsion in preparation for a photoetching process which comprises, first, rotating a cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, then during the rotation about this said'axis applying the sensitized emulsion to the outside surface of the cylinder, then rotating the cylinder for a predetermined time thereby distributing the same thereon by spreading aided by the spinning of the cylinder, and thereafter rotating the cylinder about an axis of rotation transverse of the cylinder simultaneously with the first mentioned rotation and applying heat to the rotating cylinder to congeal the emulsion while it is evenly distributed over the cylinder.

7. The method of coating the outside surfaces of cylinders with a sensitized emulsion in preparation for a. photoetching process which comprises, first, rotating a cylinder about an axis of rotation longitudinal of the cylinder, then during the rotation about this said axis applying the sensitized emulsion to the outside surface of the cylinder, then rotating the cylinder for a prede termined time thereby distributing the same thereon by spreading aided by the spnning of the cylinder, and thereafter rotating the cylinder about a diflferent axis in another direction simultaneously with the first mentioned rotation thereby evenly distributing the emulsion thereon while the cylinder is rotated about both axes.

LAWRENCE B. CORBE'I'I. 

